September 22, 2023
Los Angeles (Sept. 22, 2023) – The California Immigrant Policy Center (CIPC) issued the following statement regarding Gov. Gavin Newsom’s veto of the HOME Act (AB 1306, Carrillo), a bill that would have barred state officials from turning immigrants who have earned their release from state prison over to federal immigration authorities. The bill was co-sponsored by CIPC and 40 other organizations across California and received broad support in the state Legislature, passing the Assembly and Senate with supermajorities in both houses.
“We are deeply disappointed that Gov. Newsom vetoed the HOME Act, a common sense measure that would have allowed immigrant Californians, who have served their time, to return to their communities, reunite with their families and rebuild their lives after incarceration. California must get out of the business of assisting ICE in the detention and deportation of immigrant Californians,” said Masih Fouladi, executive director of CIPC.
“Our federal immigration system is broken and federal immigration enforcement agencies continue to treat immigrants inhumanely. And unfortunately, as shown in a recent ACLU of Northern California report, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation ‘systematically, and illegally, discriminates against immigrants, refugees, and anyone who prison officials suspect is born outside of the United States.’ By vetoing this bill, Gov. Newsom is empowering federal agencies and sending a clear message to all Californians that restorative justice does not apply to immigrants.
“CIPC remains committed to protecting the safety and well-being of all Californians by ensuring that state resources are not used to feed the incarceration to deportation pipeline. We will continue to work with our partners, lawmakers and the governor’s office to ensure that all immigrants are welcomed and treated with dignity and respect in our state.”
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The California Immigrant Policy Center (CIPC) is a statewide immigrant rights organization that advocates for policies that protect and advance the rights of immigrants and their families throughout California. CIPC combines legislative and policy advocacy, strategic communications, statewide organizing and regional coalition capacity building to pursue its mission of advocating for policies that uphold the humanity of immigrants and refugees while advancing racial, social and economic justice.